INCIDENTALLY: Hoax Pontiff
Ryanair, Europe”s No. 1 low fares airline, today (Tuesday 19 April 2005) dispatched its own delegate to the conclave in Rome. Renowned for his infallibility and humility, Cardinal O”Leary of Mullingar made the trip on Ryanair”s first scheduled low fare service direct from Dublin to Rome.
Preaching to his flock as they boarded the plane at Dublin Airport, Cardinal O”Leary said:
”You don”t need to be infallible to know that only Ryanair guarantees the lowest fares to Rome. Ryanair”s new route means it”s black smoke from now on for Aer Lingus”s high prices. It”s a miracle how Ryanair can fly from Dublin to Rome with fares that start as low as E16 plus taxes. Habemus lowest fares ” my children”.
This is an exact reproduction of a Ryanair press release. Frankly it will also be a miracle if O”Leary makes any money out of the route having, one suspects, alienated one of his major market segments. Ryanair shareholders will not be worried. They don”t get a dividend in any event!